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Real Madrid Beat Ajax With Help From First VAR

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Real Madrid claimed a fortunate win at Ajax in the Champions League last-16 first leg.

Ajax played well and had a Nicolas Tagliafico goal ruled out by the first Champions League video assistant referee consultation.

Holders Real took the lead when Karim Benzema blasted into the top corner after fine work by Vinicius Jr.

Hakim Ziyech levelled from 10 yards but Marco Asensio scored the winner from Dani Carvajal’s cross.

The Dutch side had the game’s best chances, with Dusan Tadic hitting the post in the first half and David Neres, who set up Ziyech’s goal, shooting straight at Thibaut Courtois in a one-on-one chance.

Substitute Kasper Dolberg missed a big chance in injury time as he slipped while shooting in the box, with Courtois able to get a hand to it.

VAR introduced at wrong time for Ajax

Dusan Tadic
Dusan Tadic was standing in Thibaut Courtois’ way and in an offside position from Nicolas Tagliafico’s header

The video assistant referee system has been brought into the Champions League for this season’s knockout phases – and it got its first major usage at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Ajax thought they had taken the lead when Tagliafico headed the ball in following a goalmouth scramble. Lasse Schone’s corner found Matthijs de Ligt, whose header was scooped by Courtois into the air. Tagliafico headed the ball into the air over the keeper and Tadic and into the back of the net.

But after a consultation with the video assistant referee team, referee Damir Skomina went across to watch the incident again on his screen and disallowed the goal.

The official had decided Ajax forward Tadic was marginally offside and interfering with play – standing in front of Courtois at the exact moment Tagliafico got his header in. It was the correct decision technically, however without VAR the goal would have stood.

On the balance of play, Ajax had more than deserved Ziyech’s equaliser, which came with his 30th shot of the season – more than any other player in the Champions League.

They failed to make the most of their 19 shots and now face a real task on Tuesday, 5 March at the Bernabeu.

This was Ajax’s first Champions League knockout game in 13 years and with star midfielder Frenkie de Jong already agreeing to join Barcelona this summer, and teenage captain De Ligt among other star players expected to leave, they could have to wait a while before getting to this stage again unless they can overturn their deficit in Madrid.

Real find a way to get the job done again

Real Madrid have had a real aura of invincibility in the tournament, winning the past three finals in a row, all under Zinedine Zidane. No team had managed to defend the Champions League successfully until then.

Zidane has gone, his replacement Julen Lopetegui has been sacked and Santiago Solari is the man in charge now – but they still manage to win in Europe without performing well.

After riding their luck, they got the breakthrough when 18-year-old Vinicius Jr, the youngest player to make a Champions League knockout phase appearance for Real, controlled a long ball on the left wing, cut inside two defenders and squared it for Benzema to blast home his 60th Champions League.

Following Ziyech’s equaliser, substitute Asensio stole away from his marker at the back post to turn home Carvajal’s sumptuous cross into an empty net for a smash-and-grab win.

Captain Sergio Ramos, making his 600th Real appearance, picked up a late yellow card for fouling Dolberg, which means he will miss the second leg – but he will be back for the quarter-finals if Real are there.

Man of the match – Dusan Tadic (Ajax)

Dusan Tadic
Ex-Southampton player Dusan Tadic (left) has scored 22 goals for Ajax this season and caused Real all kinds of problems. As well as hitting the post, he made five key passes, more than any other player

Match stats – Benzema equals Messi haul

  • Ajax have lost their last seven games in European competition against Real Madrid, scoring three and conceding 22.
  • Real have won six of their last seven Champions League away games in the knockout stages (L1), winning each of the last four.
  • Ajax are winless in their last six Champions League knockout games at home (D3 L3), their last win coming in March 1996 against Borussia Dortmund.
  • Real’s Karim Benzema has either scored or assisted a goal in each of his six Champions League matches against Ajax (four goals, four assists).
  • No other La Liga player has scored more goals than Real Madrid’s Benzema in 2019 in all competitions (eight, level with Lionel Messi).
  • Vinicius Jr has provided eight assists in all competitions for Real – more than any of his team-mates.

Entertainment Gists

Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits?

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Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶

 

 

Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.

The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.

And the big question now is:

Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂

Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.

One X user joked:

“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”

Another simply said:

“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”

But then came “Lembe.” 🔥

The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.

Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.

And it didn’t stop there.

‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED

On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.

One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.

From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.

Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:

Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥

So, let’s settle this once and for all:

Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?

Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇

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Entertainment Gists

RUAN-Badkid.96: The Unfiltered Voice Recommitting African Sound to Truth

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RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.

Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.

Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.

For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.

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Entertainment Gists

Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype

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If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.

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